title: Systematic review of endoscopic airway findings in children with gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a systematic review of published literature correlating findings on endoscopic evaluation of the larynx and trachea in the pediatric population with the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight articles were identified through a structured PubMed search of English-language literature using the key terms laryngopharyngeal reflux, extraesophageal reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux. A systematic review was performed relating the presence of reflux in the pediatric population to findings on endoscopic airway evaluation. A covariant analysis was performed, and each study was weighted according to the number of available samples in that study as a fraction of the total. Overall odds ratios and confidence intervals were computed for each endoscopic finding on the basis of the documented absence or presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A correlation was seen between the endoscopic findings and the presence of reflux.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arytenoid, postglottic, and vocal fold edema and erythema, lingual tonsil hypertrophy, laryngomalacia, and subglottic stenosis are among the endoscopic findings most frequently identified in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Certain findings commonly encountered on endoscopic evaluation of the larynx and trachea in children who present with respiratory symptoms do indeed demonstrate a correlation with the presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease and may indicate the need for antireflux therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Otolaryngology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: Jason Glenn
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lemonnier
authors.forename: Gaurav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Jovana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koscica
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Coticchia
mesh_terms: D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000473:pathology*; D007830:Larynx / Q000473:pathology*; D014132:Trachea / Q000473:pathology*